Horcrux

The moment his words fell, the mass of silver energy coiled around their touching hands like a living thing, forming a complex and exquisite silver rune that branded itself deeply into their palms. Then the light withdrew and vanished.

A flash of searing heat passed through them, as though some kind of connection had been established.

"Very good." Selene withdrew her hand in satisfaction. Her smile remained bright, but there was now a hint of seriousness in her eyes. "Now, we can discuss that secret."

"The prophecy indicates," she said in a lowered voice despite the soundproofing ward, "that the Dark Lord's Relics containing the secret of 'Transcending Death' are currently hidden within Hogwarts Castle."

Lin Du's heart jolted, but his expression remained calm. "Transcending Death? What relic is it exactly? And where did the prophecy come from?"

"A prophecy that came at a great cost." Selene's fingertips lightly brushed the tabletop, and a flicker of pain crossed her eyes. "From the Witch Priests of Wagadu."

"Wagadu?" Lin Du raised a brow. "You went to those 'mad Witch Priests'?"

He knew full well the price such prophecies demanded—and how worryingly unreliable they could be...

"What I asked the Witch Priests to glimpse was the possible location of the 'secret of Transcending Death.'" Selene spoke frankly. "This was the answer they gave: it was connected to the Dark Lord's most fundamental secret, extremely evil, and currently at Hogwarts. The prophecy did not reveal what relic it was."

Lin Du frowned slightly. The information was still far too vague.

"If that's the case, why not investigate it yourself?"

"Hogwarts has Dumbledore." Selene's answer was simple, carrying unmistakable wariness.

"You're afraid of him?" Lin Du asked deliberately.

Selene let out a string of silvery laughter, but there was little warmth in it. "My dear Lin, not everyone is like you, daring enough to... pursue dangerous little hobbies right under Dumbledore's nose. Caution is the secret to a long life, especially for races like ours that live so long."

Lin Du raised his brows irritably. "Allow me to correct you: my research was conducted under an explicit agreement with Dumbledore. A Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts studying Dark Magic—that's perfectly reasonable, isn't it? I have official 'permission.'"

He lifted his glass and took a small sip before continuing. "But since you came to me specifically and even made an oath... I'll keep a closer eye out during my teaching. However, I must make this clear: I will not actively undertake a risky, targeted search. If I do discover anything, the extent to which I share information must remain within what I consider safe. After all, on Dumbledore's turf, we both have to follow certain basic rules."

Selene studied him, then finally nodded. "Fine. All I need is the right to enter the 'game,' and a chance at a fair share. I look forward to good news from you, Lin."

"Pleasure doing business with you," Lin Du said blandly.

Lin Du walked out of The Hog's Head and took a deep breath of the cold night air.

You really couldn't underestimate anyone.

Even a Veela running a black-market business dared to set her sights on the Dark Lord's legacy. Was he, a respectable professor, being a little too law-abiding?

But on second thought, he pursued magical truth. He was on an entirely different level from those Dark wizards scrambling for power and profit.

"So, the 'secret of Transcending Death'?" Chao Feng's voice sounded directly in his mind—the creature had been invisible, perched on his shoulder the entire time.

"That Veela lady sure knows how to find you trouble."

"How big the trouble is depends on how we handle it," Lin Du replied inwardly. "She said the prophecy pointed to Hogwarts."

"Transcending Death?" Chao Feng's tone was openly disdainful. "Sounds like the sort of nonsense cooked up by Dark wizards so terrified of dying they've gone mad. With Voldemort's temperament..."

There was no need to finish the sentence. The same word surfaced in both their minds at once:

"Horcrux."

The moment the word appeared, the air itself seemed to turn several degrees colder.

After studying Dark Magic for so many years, they could have figured it out with their toes. If Voldemort wanted immortality, there was no other possibility besides Horcruxes.

Hiding fragments within specific objects—this was the most evil, and also the most "classic," delusion of eternal life.

"Utterly depraved," Chao Feng commented, disgust evident in its voice.

"Those who toy with souls would eventually suffer the soul's backlash. Those things themselves were vessels for the most vicious curses. The protective magic wrapped around them was probably more intricate and deadly than the locks on Gringotts' deepest vaults."

Lin Du stopped by the roadside and sighed as he looked toward the distant castle.

"Exactly. Horcruxes are wicked things. Voldemort must have layered plenty of sinister protective curses over them. Touch one on purpose? That's no different from sticking your hand into a nest of snakes."

He studied Dark Magic to understand its principles, always with proper protections in place.

But Horcruxes were different. They were Dark Magic at its most frenzied and chaotic, and the curses placed upon them were often unimaginable and impossible to guard against.

Researching Fiendfyre within the limits Dumbledore tolerated was already like walking a tightrope. Actively searching for and touching Voldemort's Horcruxes would be outright challenging both the old man's bottom line and his own odds of survival.

"What about the oath you made just now?" Chao Feng reminded him.

"The oath said 'if I discover it,'" Lin Du shrugged indifferently. "It never forced me to look for it. As long as I don't actively search, I'm not breaking the agreement. Hogwarts is so big—wouldn't it be easy enough to make an excuse and say I never came across it?"

He continued toward the castle. "Studying Dark Magic under Dumbledore is outrageous enough. Going after Horcruxes too? I don't want to be thrown out of Hogwarts tomorrow."

He was certain that where Horcruxes were concerned, Dumbledore could not possibly be completely unaware. He must have arrangements in place.

That seemingly kind old man was the true master of this castle.

"Fine," Chao Feng said, shifting into a more comfortable position on his shoulder. "Then this year, we'll pull up a little stool and watch the show."

Lin Du nodded. Horcruxes appearing would surely cause trouble, but he had made up his mind not to get involved.

Protecting himself wisely was nothing to be ashamed of.